Department for Transport

Railways: Franchises

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the franchise of each Train Operating Companies is due for renewal.

baroness vere of norbiton: The attached table shows the renewal date for all franchise agreements.



Franchise agreements - Renewal dates
(Word Document, 20.1 KB)

Rail Review

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the Williams Rail Review.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Williams Rail Review was in the final stages of drafting at the outbreak of COVID-19. The Government views the purpose of the reforms as important as ever, but further work needs to be done now to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. We are progressing with this work.

Shipping: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to implement the International Maritime Organisation’s Recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, issued on 6 May, to ensure the continued free movement of seafarers; and what steps they are taking to ensure the swift return to the UK of UK seafarers whose contracts of employment have expired and are now stranded on ships around the world.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government welcomes the framework that was developed by the International Chamber of Shipping and other organisations, which has been supported and circulated by the International Maritime Organisation. The Department wrote to the International Maritime Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation on 23 March 2020, confirming that the UK will continue to meet its international obligations related to the transit and transfer of seafarers and highlighted that the UK is fully committed to the welfare of all seafarers regardless of their nationality. The Government is currently considering the framework in more detail to see what more can be done to further facilitate crew changes in UK and we will do this work as quickly as we can, as we are very keen to see a resolution, and support the sector.

Shipping: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the UK Chamber of Shipping’s request that they sign up to a global initiative to repatriate seafarers stranded across the world.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government understands the concerns that have been raised by the UK Chamber of Shipping in relation to crew changes and ensuring that seafarers who have completed their contracts can return home. We acknowledge their request for the UK to sign up to the initiative developed by the International Chamber of Shipping and other organisations, which has been supported and circulated by the International Maritime Organisation.The Government is currently considering the framework in more detail to see what more can be done to further facilitate crew changes in UK and we will do this work as quickly as we can, as we are very keen to see a resolution, and support the sector.

Large Goods Vehicles

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 5 May (HL3178), what steps they are taking to prevent the use of unsuitable roads by HGVs where highway maintenance standards have also declined.

baroness vere of norbiton: Local authorities are best placed to manage traffic on local roads and consider the needs of local residents. The powers given to local traffic authorities under Sections 1 & 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 allow for the restriction or prohibition of the use of HGVs on any road, for a wide range of safety and environmental reasons. These measures can be implemented by making Traffic Regulation Orders without reference to the Department for Transport. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 provide various signs for authorities to consider if they choose to do this, including signs informing motorists that certain roads are unsuitable for HGVs or if a weight limit is in place. The restrictions are then enforceable by the police.

Road Traffic Offences: Enforcement

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the civil enforcement powers contained in the Transport Management Act 2004 (section 6) to authorities outside London to better enforce moving traffic offences, in order to protect cyclists and pedestrians.

baroness vere of norbiton: We are giving thought to the role these powers could play in helping councils to deliver their transport recovery plans. Meanwhile, the police retain the necessary moving traffic enforcement powers outside of London.

Delivery Services: Coronavirus

lord butler of brockwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the effect of the greater use of delivery vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic

baroness vere of norbiton: Supermarkets are responding to the extremely high demand for delivery slots and there has been considerable growth in online delivery across all supermarkets. In some cases, retailers have worked to double their number of online delivery slots available. Recent Kantar Worldpanel Data suggests that online sales now account for 10.2% of overall grocery, versus 7.4% last month, with the greatest increase among older shoppers (last 4 weeks ending 19 April 2020). These increases have ensured that everybody will have access to the food that they need. The Department welcomes the actions that industry is taking, including hiring more staff and prioritising delivery slots for those that need them most. Additionally, Ministers have asked local authorities to show flexibility to allow extended delivery hours to supermarkets to ensure shelves can be replenished more quickly. The Government recognises that whilst the increased frequency of deliveries could have a temporary impact on local residents, this needs to be balanced by the significant public interest in ensuring local residents have continued access to food and other essential goods in their local shops.

Railways: North of England

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further tothe letter from the Minister of State for Transport to Sara Britcliffe MPon 6 May (ref MC/288646), what plans they have to publish the terms of reference of the proposals to reinstate the rail link between Skipton and Colne and enhance capacity for rail freight on existing trans-Pennine routes; who will carry out this work; and how long the work will take.

baroness vere of norbiton: Officials are preparing proposals for consideration and agreement by Ministers for further development work, on both the possible reinstatement of the rail link between Skipton and Colne, primarily as a passenger route, and options for enhancement of gauge and capacity for rail freight on existing trans-Pennine routes. Further information about the scope, expected duration, and who will be carrying out this work will be available as and when such proposals are agreed.

Skipton-Colne Railway Line

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the Minister of State for Transport to Sara Britcliffe MP on 6 May (ref MC/288646), whether the Further Feasibility Work announced in January has (1) been completed in both Phases, and (2) presented in a full report to ministers; and whether they intend to publish both that report, and the Steer Group report that was delivered to Ministers in December 2018 on the potential reopening of the Colne-Skipton railway line.

baroness vere of norbiton: The further feasibility work on Skipton-Colne reinstatement and trans-Pennine freight strategy commissioned last year has now been completed and Ministers have received advice on its findings. The Government intends to publish the reports produced, including the earlier reports completed in 2018, alongside decisions on next steps as previously indicated (HL37, 7 January 2020).

Leader of the House of Lords

Hereditary Peers: By-elections

lord rennard: To ask the Leader of the House whether, and if so how, she is assessing the arrangements for conducting ballots to fill vacancies for hereditary peers after their suspension until 8 September; and how such arrangements will be put before the House.

lord rennard: To ask the Leader of the House whetherany process for resuming the conduct of by-elections for hereditary peers will be put to a vote of the whole House of Lords before any moresuch by-elections take place.

baroness evans of bowes park: The House resolved on 23 March that Standing Order 10(6) be suspended until 8 September. No further decisions of the House are required before the provisions of Standing Order 10(6) resume. The Clerk of the Parliaments is responsible for making the arrangements for individual by-elections. In all recent by-elections those eligible to vote have been able to do so by post.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Housing: Energy

lord stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of certified Retrofit Coordinators required under PAS2035:2019 that (1) will be required to support the delivery of the Retrofit Standards Framework at its commencement in June 2021, (2) are currently certified, and (3) are awaiting certification; and what assessment they have made of whether the number of certified Coordinators is sufficient to enable the planned Whole House Retrofit policy in England to be delivered to its original timescale.

lord callanan: We estimate that 250 – 1,000 retrofit coordinators will be required to meet the PAS2035:2019 requirements for the Energy Company Obligation, which is currently the only policy in which the Retrofit Standards Framework will have to be implemented from 1 July 2021. The number of retrofit coordinators required will depend on the number of projects and the number of measures per project. Currently, around 80 people have graduated from the training with around an additional 230 going through the process. The training can be provided fully on-line and we are in regular contact with the training provider to monitor uptake as well as considering options to increase it should we deem it necessary.

Universities: Foreign Students

lord blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) immediate, and (2) future estimated, decrease in income for universities from international students; what assessment they have made of the impact of any such decrease on universities' ability to maintain research capacity;and what plans they have to review the (a) timing, and (b) relevance, of the Research Excellence Framework.

lord callanan: In the 2018/19 academic year, tuition fees from international students at UK higher education providers accounted for around £6.9bn of sector income. The Government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education sector, including student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19, on international student numbers, including restrictions on travel.We are working with the sector to assess the potential implications for university research sustainability. In order to support this, we have established a joint BEIS/DfE Ministerial Taskforce on University Research and Knowledge Exchange Sustainability to engage with university sector experts, Devolved Administration and research funders to identify and assess risks of impacts, and to consider approaches to help manage these. The aim is to sustain the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery and beyond.The Research Excellence Framework is operated jointly by the 4 UK HE Funding Bodies, who have recently gathered views on the revised timings for the REF. The Funding Bodies intend to report on the outcome and next steps by the end of May. The role of the REF in identifying and supporting research excellence with impact remains fundamental to maintaining the quality and capability of the university research base and its contribution to UK economy and society.

Climate Change

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their investment in economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic will support the UK’s climate objectives.

lord callanan: The UK has shown that growing our economy and cutting emissions can be achieved at the same time. We have grown our economy by 75% while cutting emissions by 43% over the past three decades. The UK has over 460,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains and many of the actions we need to take to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050 will support the future growth of our economy. As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient.

Life Sciences: Finance

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on science and research funding life sciences to deliver testing capabilities now and in the future.

lord callanan: The UK continues to be a prime destination for life sciences. Sustained Government and industry investment in life sciences research across the UK has provided a strong foundation for this work to flourish.During the Covid-19 outbreak, the Government is engaging with the life sciences sector to understand how it can best respond to issues, such as developing and producing testing supplies. The Government’s long-term objectives for research and development are clear: to invest in the science and research that will deliver economic growth across the UK, for decades to come. As part of the Government’s £1.25 billion Covid-19 support package, Innovate UK is investing £750 million to support innovation in the country’s most research-intensive businesses during and afterthe pandemic.

India: Coal and Renewable Energy

the lord bishop of salisbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India to (1) discourage financial assistance to the coal industry, and (2) encourage renewable energy development, following reports of a drop in non-renewable energy usage and carbon emissions for the first time in four decades.

lord callanan: The UK and Indian governments are closely engaged in regular dialogue on issues of clean energy transition, including rapid development of renewables. UK partnership with India in support of these objectives includes technical collaboration, joint research, and support for investment and commercial partnerships in renewables. Bilateral engagement is backed by a Ministerial Energy Dialogue, which includes discussion of alternatives to coal, and accompanied by support for clean energy transition through multilateral channels. The UK also supports India-led initiatives like the International Solar Alliance. The UK is committed to close engagement with India as a long term partner on this issue, including through engagement with the COP26 Energy Transitions campaign. Through the Powering Past Coal Alliance initiative we have also actively engaged with a number of Indian states: Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have committed to no new coal for the next few years. India currently still requires coal as a baseload and to manage intermittent renewables; plans for new coal production are in line with this need and no further. Representations to the Government of India are mindful of this fact.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance is available to those who received firm job offers including start dates before lockdown was announced on 23 March but whose start dates have subsequently been postponed because of the lockdown.

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance is available to those who received firm job offers including start dates before lockdown was announced on 23 March but whose start dates have subsequently been postponed because of the lockdown.

lord callanan: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. If an individual was on their former employer’s payroll as of 28 February 2020, their employer can re-employ them and put them on furlough. This applies even if an employee is not re-employed until after 19 March. However, the scheme is not an employment right and it is up to the employer to decide who to furlough, and whether to re-employ a member of staff they have made redundant or who has resigned from their employment. There is a package of support available for those who are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, including an increase in the amount of Universal Credit, three-month mortgage holidays and support for renters.

Small Businesses: Social Distancing

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of changes to physical distancing on businesses that have been ordered to remain closed and therefore have no income.

lord callanan: On 11 May the Government published its COVID-19 recovery strategy which sets out our plan for moving to the next phase of our response. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap for easing existing measures in a safe and measured way. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review, and we will continue to work hard to support business and workers as the situation evolves. Detailed guidance has been published for various working environments to help businesses make workplaces as safe as possible. We continue to work with stakeholders on developing sensible guidance for businesses that will give UK workers the utmost confidence on their return to work and will now focus on sectors that are not currently open to help them plan for when they can open. Employers are responsible for taking all reasonably practical steps to address health and safety risks, which would be identified by carrying out a risk assessment. Nevertheless, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced unprecedented support for business and workers, including a Bounce Back Loans scheme.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is available to businesses that have not been ordered to close but are reliant on those that have, such as ticket agents, 73 per cent of whose staff have been furloughed according to the Entertainment Agents' Association; and whether they expect that these businesses and their staff will need continued support to prevent large job losses.

lord callanan: The Government is aware that businesses are facing many challenges during this unprecedented time and we are doing everything at our disposal to support businesses through this crisis and beyond. The Government has been clear that it is essential that businesses that experience increased costs and disrupted cash flow as a result of coronavirus are supported, and my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. These measures include the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), and Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which are designed to help businesses across the UK impacted by the coronavirus crisis to access funding they need and the Self-Employed income support scheme. Guidance on all these schemes can be found on the Government website. In addition, to help firms to continue to keep people in employment, the Government has introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The scheme has protected over 7 million workers and almost 1 million businesses so far through this crisis. This scheme has been extended in full until end July 2020 and after July we will introduce more flexibility to the furlough scheme so that we move out of it in a measured way that protects people’s incomes and helps support furloughed employees as they return to work. This will run for three months from August through to the end of October. The Government recognises that some firms will be affected longer than others by Coronavirus. Through this period, the Government will continue to monitor developments in the public health and wider economic situation, and engage with affected sectors, to ensure that the support provided is right for these sectors and for the economy as a whole.

Cycling and Running

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement of the package of initiatives to encourage cycling and running to work, what plans they have to assist in providing showers, washrooms and changing facilities at places of work.

lord callanan: The Government has published guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible, and this includes looking at any existing or new communal facilities such as showers and changing facilities. Employers are responsible for taking all reasonably practical steps to address health and safety risks; however, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. People should only be going into work if they cannot work from home, and we encourage employers to agree alternative or flexible working hours with their employees. Whilst we have always said that those who cannot work from home can travel to work, we are giving those who have not been working the confidence to return to work and those businesses who suspended operations the guidelines they need to reopen safely. Walking, running and cycling help to reduce pressure on the public transport system and the road network, which is why they are recommended as more people return to the workplace. We are also encouraging people to avoid rush hour if they can, to help maintain social distancing. This will also reduce peak demand on the transport system.

Employment: Pregnancy

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 5 May (HL3252), which paragraph of the Government guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme clarifies that pregnant employees can be furloughed under the Scheme if they and their employer agree, and provided they meet the normal eligibility requirements.

lord callanan: The Job Retention Scheme has been designed to help employers retain staff during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance explains that anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can be considered for the Scheme - where the employee and employer agree. That includes pregnant women. The limited number of exclusions are explicitly set out in the guidance.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

baroness redfern: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how quickly banks will be able to make a decision on applications to the Bounce Back Loan scheme

lord callanan: The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) was launched on 4 May to help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000. More than 69,000 Bounce Back Loans worth over £2 billion were approved during the first 24 hours of the scheme. As of 24 May, this has increased to 608,069 loans issued to businesses, worth £18.49 billion. In order to apply for the scheme, businesses complete a short, simple, online application form, meaning that applications can be submitted and processed rapidly, and loans can be accessed within a matter of days. The Government is providing lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan to give them the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country.

Construction: Mental Health

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Chartered Institute of BuildingUnderstanding Mental Healthin the Built Environment, published on 11 May; and what steps they are taking in response.

lord callanan: The health and wellbeing of our construction workforce is of the utmost importance. The Government welcomes the Chartered Institute of Building’s report on mental health in the sector, and will consider its recommendations.



CIOB Understanding Mental Health report May 2020
(PDF Document, 2.36 MB)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they use to decide whether to investigate incidents of Israeli settler violence or incidents involving Israeli forces causing injury, death or other harm to Palestinians in the West Bank.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government from which sources they obtain reports of Israeli settler violence or incidents involving Israeli forces causing injury, death or other harm to Palestinians in the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: States have the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute crimes within their national jurisdictions, including territory a state has occupied. The UK does not have jurisdiction to do so directly. We monitor events using a wide variety of sources of information, including from local and international NGOs, UN agencies, the Palestinian Authority and official Israeli data. We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We urge the Israeli authorities to thoroughly investigate every instance to bring those responsible to justice and end the culture of impunity. We have also stressed to them the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Iran: Sanctions

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the expiration of the UN conventional arms embargo on Iran in October on human rights advocates in the country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a reciprocal deal that lifts sanctions in exchange for tough nuclear limits. Iran has broken the nuclear limits in the JCPoA and we are working to bring Iran back into compliance through the deal's Dispute Resolution Mechanism.UNSCR 2231, which underpins the JCPoA, includes a number of clauses designed to allow sanctions to expire on fixed dates: the UN conventional arms embargo is due to expire in October 2020. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions will remain in place until 2023. We are consulting partners on the broader implications of arms embargo expiry for Iran as well as the region, and encourage all states to implement national export control best practice.Separate to sanctions in place under the JCPoA, there is an EU Iran human rights sanctions regime. It consists of asset freezes and travel bans on certain individuals and entities involved in human rights violations; and trade restrictions on specified goods and technology which may be used to repress the civilian population of Iran, and on specified goods and technology which may be used for interception and monitoring services in Iran. These EU trade restrictions do not have an expiry date.

Iran: Sanctions

lord grade of yarmouth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks associated with the Iranian trade in arms following the expiration of the UN Security Council arms embargo on Iran in October.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a reciprocal deal that lifts sanctions in exchange for tough nuclear limits. Iran has broken the nuclear limits in the JCPoA and we are working to bring Iran back into compliance through the deal's Dispute Resolution Mechanism.UNSCR 2231, which underpins the JCPoA, includes a number of clauses designed to allow sanctions to expire on fixed dates: the UN conventional arms embargo is due to expire in October 2020. We have repeatedly set out concerns about Iranian destabilising behaviour, including proliferation to non-state actors. We are consulting partners on the broader implications of the UN arms embargo expiry and encourage all states to implement national export control best practice.As part of those consultations, we are taking into account sanctions regimes that will remain in place after the arms embargo expires, such as UNSCRs 1540, 1701 and 2216, which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions on Iran will also remain in place until 2023. Separate to sanctions in place under the JCPoA, there is an EU Iran human rights sanctions regime. It places trade restrictions on specified goods and technology which may be used to repress the civilian population of Iran and on specified goods and technology which may be used for interception and monitoring services in Iran. These EU trade restrictions do not have an expiry date.

White Helmets

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatfunding they have provided to the White Helmets in Syria since 1 January; and what assessment they have made of that organisation’s alleged links to terrorist groups.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK provided £716,000 from the Conflict Stability and Security Fund to the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, in the Financial Year 2019/2020. This funding has supported the White Helmets' emergency search and rescue work in Idlib. We assess that allegations linking the White Helmets to terrorist groups are baseless and are part of a concerted disinformation campaign by the Syrian regime and Russia seeking to undermine the White Helmets' valuable work.

Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy: Third Sector

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to inform civil society about how to participate in the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy as soon as work on it recommences.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether work streams have already been identified for the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and, if so, what are they.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they think that work will recommence on the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and, if undecided, whether they will announce when this recommences.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Following the Chancellor's announcement that the Comprehensive Spending Review is being delayed, the Integrated Review has been paused given the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We will return to the Integrated Review when appropriate to do so, aligned with the CSR, ensuring that we engage with all relevant stakeholders.

China: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) cooperated withthe government of China to suppress information about the emergence of COVID-19, and (2) the extent of the influence ofthat government within the WHO. [T]

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has an important role to play in coordinating the global health response - underpinned by the latest public health and scientific evidence. The UK has always been clear that, at the right time, there will need to be a full and independent review into the pandemic. The World Health Assembly resolution on COVID-19, which the UK co-sponsored, calls on the WHO to initiate an independent and comprehensive evaluation. This is an important step in learning the lessons of this pandemic.China is currently one of 34 member states represented on the World Health Assembly's Executive Board, as is the United Kingdom. The World Health Assembly, which is the WHO's supreme decision making body, includes representatives of all 194 member states. In line with their responsibilities in the international community, China has a vital role in the global response to the pandemic and any long-term health challenge. The immediate focus continues to be stopping the spread of the virus through global action but, at the right time, we will work with the international community, including China, to learn lessons.

Eleanor Sharpston

baroness deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for (1) the rule of law, and (2) the principle of judicial independence, of the EU’s decision to terminate the appointment of advocate general Eleanor Sharpston QC’s term at the European Court of Justice, which was not due to expire until October 2021.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: This is matter for the European Union to be decided in accordance with EU law. Since the UK has left the EU, we shall not comment on this matter.

Attorney General

Government Departments: Compensation

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many compensation claims have been brought against Government departments, except the Department of Health and Social Care, since 28 February; how many claimants there are; and what was the amount of damages sought in each case.

lord keen of elie: Since 28 February 2020, 601 claims for damages have been brought against government departments, excluding the Department for Health and Social Care, in litigation conducted by the Government Legal Department (GLD).GLD conducts most, but not all, litigation on behalf of government departments. For example, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs normally conducts its own litigation.GLD is unable to give the amount of damages sought in each case because that information is not always available at the early stage of the case and whether such information is available could not be ascertained without examining every case file and thus incurring disproportionate costs.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: China

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethellon 10 March (HL1839),what assessment they have made of the report by the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies China and Viruses: The Case of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu, published on 29 January.

lord bethell: The Government is aware of this report by the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies.Research into COVID-19’s origins is ongoing, and the United Kingdom is working with the international scientific community to determine the source of the outbreak.

Coronavirus

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific guidance they plan to issue, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to people living with serious health conditions.

lord bethell: On 30 March the Government updated their online guidance on GOV.UK for the clinically extremely vulnerable. This group is advised to shield until at least the end of June 2020. Expert doctors in England identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we knew about the virus so far, place someone at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.There are around 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable patients that have been identified. Each patient identified nationally receives a letter, a text message if their mobile phone details are known and is entitled to use the Cabinet Office shielded patient service. The letter provides specific advice about their circumstances.

Coronavirus: Medical Equipment

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what protocolsare in place to ration medical equipment if necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: As part of our concerted national efforts to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, the Department is working closely with industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines and medical devices and equipment they need. Precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages, including management of demand. The Department shares regular information about impending supply issues and management plans with the NHS via networks in primary and secondary care and will liaise with relevant patient groups about issues affecting specific medicines, medical devices and equipment.

Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that some cases of COVID-19 are leading to cytokine storm syndrome.

lord bethell: COVID-19 is a new virus and we are learning more about the properties of the virus every day. The United Kingdom is carrying out research to better understand the virus and inform the actions that will lessen its effect on the UK population. UK clinical experts recognise that most patients recover from COVID-19 without complications, but a small proportion develop a severe delayed hyper-inflammatory illness that includes a set of symptoms or complications sometimes referred to as ‘cytokine storm’. The UK is assessing in clinical trials, several drugs that may make a difference at this stage in the illness. The Government will continue to review the evidence as it emerges and will always be ready to upgrade the guidance with new scientific evidence and on the expert advice of New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG).

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in care and nursing homes in the UK; and over what period that testing took place.[T]

lord bethell: Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 125,000 workers in care settings and over 118,000 care home residents have been tested through Departmental and Public Health England’s testing routes.On 11 May we launched the ‘whole care home’ portal. We have the capacity to deliver up to 30,000 tests a day to residents and staff in care homes, making sure that all residents and asymptomatic staff can all be tested.This information is for England only and supplements the local systems already in place for testing residents. We are working with the devolved administrations to support their needs around adult social care testing.

Coronavirus: Mental Health Services

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ensure frontline workers are provided with support and counselling following the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 15 May 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The Government has provided £5 million to fund a collaboration between Mind, Samaritans, Shout and Hospice UK that provides information, emotional support and access to a crisis text service for people working on the frontline.The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a comprehensive emotional, psychological and practical support package for National Health Service staff during and following the COVID-19 response. This currently includes: free access to well-being apps; a dedicated support helpline and text service (in partnership with the Samaritans); and a separate helpline offering bereavement support (in partnership with Hospice UK). The Department is working with partners to extend both helplines to the social care workforce and will also be introducing an app and website aimed at providing timely information for the adult social care workforce.

lord bethell: The Government has provided £5 million to fund a collaboration between Mind, Samaritans, Shout and Hospice UK that provides information, emotional support and access to a crisis text service for people working on the frontline.The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a comprehensive emotional, psychological and practical support package for National Health Service staff during and following the COVID-19 response. This currently includes: free access to well-being apps; a dedicated support helpline and text service (in partnership with the Samaritans); and a separate helpline offering bereavement support (in partnership with Hospice UK). The Department is working with partners to extend both helplines to the social care workforce and will also be introducing an app and website aimed at providing timely information for the adult social care workforce.

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the reported numbers of COVID-19 related deaths of frontline staff from BAME communities, what steps they are taking to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 for BAME frontline staff.

lord bethell: We are looking very specifically at the impact COVID-19 is having on the black, Asian and minority ethnic population. We have commissioned Public Health England to look at this issue in detail and they are due to report before the end of May. The review will also analyse available data on health outcomes for National Health Service staff, to develop a better understanding of how the virus affects frontline workforce.In advance of Public Health England’s review, and on a precautionary basis, NHS England and NHS Improvement have recommended that NHS employers should risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly.We are working around the clock to ensure personal protective equipment is delivered as quickly as possible to all those on the frontline during this global pandemic for as long as it is required.

Protective Clothing: Procurement

baroness manzoor: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many companies they have requested to manufacture personalprotective equipment since 1 January; and what new contracts they have placed (1) inside, and (2) outside, the UK to manufacture such equipment since that date.

lord bethell: As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations. The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of and access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer. Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

NHS: Protective Clothing

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all suppliers and potential providers of personal protective equipment within the UK have been used by the NHS.

lord bethell: As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations. The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of and access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer. Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Public Health England’s (1) preliminary planning before, and (2) advice during, the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Public Health England’s (PHE) preliminary planning before, and advice during, the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by the scientific evidence. This is a new virus and PHE continues to keep its planning and advice under review to ensure it is informed by the latest evidence.

Abortion

baroness stroud: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of a medical professional to establish the gestation period of a child accurately via a telephone consultation before prescribing the at-home administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for an abortion.

lord bethell: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has issued clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals on Coronavirus infection and abortion care. The guidance sets out the circumstances where women should be asked to attend a clinic for an ultra-sound scan. However, it states that “most women can determine the gestational age of their pregnancy with reasonable accuracy by last menstrual period (LMP) alone”. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends in their guidance Abortion Care that services should consider providing abortion assessments by phone or video call, as evidence shows that community services and telemedicine appointments improve access to abortion services. A copy of this guidance is attached.



Abortion Care
(PDF Document, 297.31 KB)

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the average weekly fees paid by local authorities to care homes run by (1) local authorities, and (2) private operators, for elderly (a) residential care, and (b) elderly nursing care.

lord bethell: Care and support is arranged on an open market where prices and fee rates are negotiated locally by commissioners for state funded clients, whilst individuals and their families do so for those who self-fund. The Government has no say in these individual negotiations, as the level of fees charged to people who fund their own care is a private contractual arrangement.The Government has taken and continues to take steps to support adult social care providers and local authorities, including providing regular advice and guidance, and working with the sector on contingency and preparedness.We recognise the pressures that all parts of the sector are facing, and we have announced £1.6 billion to help local authorities deal with the immediate impacts of COVID-19. On top of this, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an additional £1.6 billion of funding to support local authorities delivering essential frontline services.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients who were discharged from hospitals to care homes in each week since 1 Februarywere not tested for the COVID-19 virus before that transfer.

lord bethell: The Government does not hold data on the number of patients who were discharged from hospitals to care homes in each week since 1 February and were not tested for COVID-19 before transfer. We are working closely with local authorities, the care sector and NHS England to understand the impact of COVID-19 on care homes and ensure everyone has access to the right care, in the most appropriate setting for their needs.This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we will continue to work closely with the sector to keep our policies and data under review as the pandemic goes on.

Cancer: Radiotherapy

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of patients awaiting radiotherapy therapy for cancer have experienced delays in their treatment since January.

lord bethell: The data requested is not held centrally.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

baroness manzoor: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that hospitals and other healthcare providers in England follow NHS England guidelines to (1) risk assess, and (2) redeploy where possible, BAME staff who are working on the COVID-19 frontline; and what assessment they have made of the implantation of those guidelines.

lord bethell: Guidance for all black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) colleagues working in the National Health Service has been published online by NHS England. This is in addition to information from NHS Employers on COVID-19 and the prioritisation and management of risk, including ethnicity.NHS England will be sharing a framework of resources to support systems, trusts, commissioners and primary care teams to implement the actions listed in their online blog post, ‘A note for all BAME colleagues working in the NHS’. We would expect all NHS trusts to follow and take account of any guidance that is issued and to disseminate it as appropriate to the relevant departments or clinical areas to action and take forward as necessary.Public Health England’s review will analyse available data on health outcomes for NHS staff, to develop a better understanding of how the virus affects frontline workforce.

Special Educational Needs: Young People

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many young people with special needs who, although they need continuing social care support, were not transferred to Adult Services within six months of turning 18 years old, in 2019.

lord bethell: This information is not centrally held.Whilst the Short and Long Term Services (SALT) collection contains information on the number of requests for support relating to transferring to the care of adult social care services, we do not collect data around delays, needs or exact age.The SALT collection relates to the social care activity of councils with adult social services responsibilities in England.

World Health Assembly

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what policy objectives they intend to set for their participation in the 73rd Session of the World Health Organisation’s World Health Assembly due to be held from 17 to 21 May; what plans they have to raise the case for a formal international investigation of the government of China’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan at that Assembly; and what discussions they intend to have with other governments, in advance of the Assembly, about conducting such an investigation.

lord bethell: The United Kingdom participated fully in the 73rd World Health Assembly which we saw as an important opportunity to further international collaboration on COVID-19. We believe the World Health Organization (WHO) has an important role to play in leading the global health response. We want to see the WHO continue to learn lessons on how to improve its response to global health emergencies and as such would expect a full review of all elements of their response once they are out of response mode, as has occurred after previous Public Health Emergencies of International Concern. The Secretary of State raised this point in the United Kingdom national address and we were pleased to co-sponsor the COVID-19 resolution, which was an important step forward on the review as well as other areas of collaboration. The UK intends to engage constructively with a future review, including working with other Governments.

Social Services: Coronavirus

baroness wheeler: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor the welfare of children and vulnerable adults whose care and support has been reduced under the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020.

lord bethell: Monitoring the welfare of children is a matter for the Department for Education.The Department is working with the Care Quality Commission and Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) to understand the impact of the Care Act 2014 easements introduced by the Coronavirus Act 2020, which allow local authorities to prioritise care and support so that the most urgent and acute needs are met. TLAP hopes to speak to local authorities which are operating under easements to understand what this means for adults with care and support needs. A TLAP Insight Group will be meeting regularly to coordinate intelligence of TLAP partners on the impact and views of people with lived experience.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

baroness wheeler: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefit of redeploying NHS nurses and doctors to care homes, and what representations they have received from the National Care Forum and other care organisations about any such redeployment.

lord bethell: We are very grateful for the many health professionals who are supporting the local health and care system during the pandemic, including National Health Service support to enable nurse returners to be deployed to care homes through the Bringing Back Staff programme.In April, we published COVID-19: Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care setting out the measures that the Government and other parts of the system are taking to support adult social care, to ensure people in care homes and other settings continue to receive the care they need. We are increasing funding and support to care homes to reduce the spread of infection and support workforce resilience, working with local authorities and health. We continue to work closely with our senior leaders’ group which includes the National Care Forum, who advise the Government on the measures we are taking to maximise workforce supply and capacity. A copy of COVID-19: Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care is attached.



COVID 19 Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care
(PDF Document, 284.73 KB)

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific advice and other factors they are using to determine whether to recommend the use of face coverings in public.

lord bethell: The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies considered the very limited evidence available on the use of face coverings and advised that there was some positive benefit for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. However, the main ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing and washing hands regularly.The Government is now advising wearing a face covering in situations where it is difficult to manage social distancing and there may be close contact with people the wearer would not usually meet. Further guidance on the use of facemasks is available in the Staying safe outside your home guidance published on 11 May in an online only format on GOV.UK.

Health Services: Coronavirus

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to treat other conditions, including (1) HIV and (2) tuberculosis.

lord bethell: Sexual and reproductive health services are open. They have reduced their face-to-face appointments to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection but they will be able to see urgent, priority or vulnerable clients in person. Services are also maintaining access during this time through scaling up on online services. This can be achieved through a variety of routes, such as increasing eligibility through current provision or utilising a neighbours’ service for residents of another local authority. Public Health England is also seeking to establish a national framework for online sexual and reproductive health services that local areas can choose to commission for their residents.NHS England has published a number of specialty guides to help hospital departments continue essential care for patients within their speciality, whilst supporting the wider hospital and community in providing care for patients with COVID-19. On 26 March 2020, NHS England published a letter about the importance of maintaining the provision of tuberculosis services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: Screening

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce electronic temperature testing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: There are not currently any plans to introduce temperature testing.

Health Services: Coronavirus

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) change services to patient care and experience; and (2) invest in the field of multidisciplinary and integrated perioperative care, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: COVID-19 has affected every part of local health and care systems. To respond to the challenge, National Health Service organisations, local councils and others are working across traditional organisational and team boundaries.The NHS is investigating ways to ‘lock in’ beneficial changes to patient care and experience which have been introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak. These include backing local initiative and flexibility; enhanced local system working; strong clinical leadership; flexible and remote working where appropriate; and rapid scaling of new technology-enabled service delivery options such as a digital-consultations.Similarly, a full programme of NHS-led work, through Integrated Care Systems and sustainability and transformation partnerships, will aim to join up services and foster multidisciplinary team working, to make perioperative care more responsive and convenient for patients across the full pathway; before, during and after surgery.

Health Services: Coronavirus

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment (1) they, and (2) NHS England, havemade ofthe availability of non-COVID-19 related urgent care services; what steps they are taking to ensure that such services are resumed; and when can patients expect face-to-face appointments to resume. [T]

lord bethell: We have continued to deliver the most urgent treatments, such as emergency and urgent cancer care, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.With evidence suggesting that we are passing the peak of this wave of COVID-19, and with the National Health Service well-placed to provide world-leading care for those who do still have the virus, we are bringing back non-urgent services that had been temporarily suspended. We will work on the principle that the most urgent treatments, including mental health support, should be brought back first and this will be driven by local demands on the system. The approach will be flexed at local level according to capacity and demand in different parts of the country, and will be gradual, over weeks.In the absence of face-to-face appointments, primary and secondary care clinicians have been asked to stratify and proactively contact their high-risk patients to educate on specific symptoms and circumstances needing urgent hospital care and ensure appropriate ongoing care plans are delivered. Doctors will always have the safety of patients at the centre of any decisions they make.

NHS: Computer Software

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements have been made to incorporate information from the King's College London and ZOE COVID-19 symptom tracking applicationinto the submission of information and advice to ministers.

lord bethell: Project OASIS is a combined effort between NHSX and the jHub to create a much clearer picture of the public’s experience with COVID-19 by incorporating data from third party symptom tracker apps commonly used by the public with the National Health Service’s own internal data. The data will be used by the NHS to understand the spread of COVID-19 at a national and local level.At the point that the OASIS platform began ingesting data there were seven app providers that had committed to provide data. Following discussions with the King’s College London team, NHSX has been working with Health Data Research UK (HDR) to onboard the data from the C-19 Covid Symptom Tracker (Zoe app) into project OASIS. These discussions are at the final stages as at 20 May 2020. When this is agreed HDR will be added as a contributor to project OASIS on the NHSX website.

Social Services: Learning Disability

baroness jolly: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adults with a learning disability live in a care setting.

lord bethell: 2018-19 is the latest year for which data on the number of clients with a Primary Support Reason of Learning Disability Support receiving long term support by care setting is available. According to the 2018-19 dataset 2,065 adults with a learning disability lived in a nursing care setting whilst 30,410 adults with a learning disability lived in a residential care setting. Therefore, a total of 32,4765 adults with a learning disability lived in a care setting between 2018-19.

Learning Disability

baroness jolly: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measuresthey are putting inplace to ensure that policies applied to people with learning disabilitiesrecognise their individual needs.

lord bethell: We are supporting people of all ages with a learning disability or autism to live well in the community, rather than in inappropriate hospital care. Building the Right Support is our national plan to develop community services and reduce reliance on mental health inpatient services for people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges, including those with a mental health condition. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to an extra £4.5 billion a year for primary care and community health services by 2023/24. Health and social care staff must have the skills and knowledge to make a positive difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people. This is a priority for the Government and we are developing plans to introduce the Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disability and autism.

Coronavirus: Children

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 contact tracing, if widely applied, will also extend to school-aged children.

lord bethell: The Government is developing a new test and trace programme. This will bring together an app, expanded web and phone-based contact tracing, and swab testing for those with potential COVID-19 symptoms. This programme will play an important role in helping to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in the future, including for school-aged children. The programme will include more traditional methods of contact tracing if a child, parent or guardian test positive. This could include, for example, direct discussion with parents and schools on recent contacts. The Government has recruited 21,000 contact tracers to support contact tracing and will recruit more if needed. They will play an important part in tracing the contacts of those with COVID-19, including school-aged children.

Agency Nurses: Coronavirus

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether agency nurses working in hospitals, nursing homes and care homes are beingtested for COVID-19.

lord bethell: All National Health Service and social care staff, including nurses, can apply for a test if they are experiencing symptoms using digital portal. The employer referral portal allows employers to refer essential workers who are self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have COVID-19 symptoms, for testing.Asymptomatic care home staff are now eligible for testing through the ‘whole home’ testing portal.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) reports that care homeshave had to accept patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 from hospitals, and (2) the impact any such patients have had on deaths from COVID-19 in care homes. [T]

lord bethell: The safety of residents and staff is always a priority and patients should not be discharged unless it is clinically safe to do so. We are determined to make sure discharges into nursing or social care do not put residents currently in those settings at risk. We have introduced a policy of testing all residents prior to discharge to a care home. If appropriate isolation or cohorted care for an individual is not available with a local care provider on discharge, the individual’s local authority has been asked to secure alternative appropriate accommodation and care for the remainder of the required isolation period. We are continuing to monitor care home deaths and are working closely with local authorities, the care sector and NHS England to understand the impact of COVID-19 on care homes and ensure everyone has access to the right care, in the most appropriate setting for their needs.This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we will continue to work closely with the sector to keep our policies and data under review as the pandemic goes on.

NHS: Re-employment

baroness crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure thatrecently retired NHS workerswho have returned to work for the NHS continue to be employed throughout the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Department is working with the healthcare professional regulators, the devolved administrations, NHS England and NHS Improvement and employing organisations to ensure that the closure of the temporary emergency registers takes place in a planned and co-ordinated way.The temporary registers will be closed at the end of the COVID-19 emergency period (as declared by the Secretary of State) and all those who have joined the temporary registers will have their registration revoked. However, we are keen that anyone who has returned to practice and who wishes to remain working beyond the emergency period is encouraged and supported to join the full register. To do so they will need to demonstrate that they meet the required standards and pay the relevant registration fees.

Coronavirus: Quarantine

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to use GPS technology to ensure people who have interacted with a ‘super-spreader’ quarantine appropriately.

lord bethell: There are currently no such plans. If we make any changes to how the app works over time, we will explain in plain English why those changes were made and what they mean for app users and will publish an updated Data Protection Impact Assessment and Privacy Notice.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) residents, and (2) workers, in care homes have been offered COVID-19 tests; how many have been carried out; and what estimate they have made of the time it will take for all residents and employees in care homes to be offered tests.

lord bethell: Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 125,000 workers in care settings and over 118,000 care home residents have been tested through Departmental and Public Health England testing routes. On Monday 11 May we launched the ‘whole home’ testing portal. As of 19 May, around 170,000 tests have been delivered to 1,243 care homes using the whole care home portal as part of this programme. We will make testing available for every resident and member of staff in care homes for older people in England between now and early June.

NHS: Coronavirus

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking to ensure that (1) doctors, (2) nurses, and (3) other healthcare workers, who have registered respectively with the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Health and Care Professions Council to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic are able to remain in service in the NHS once the immediate state of emergency subsides.

lord bethell: Temporary emergency registration powers are available to the registrars of the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Health and Care Professions Council for the duration of an emergency, as declared by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.The Department is working with the healthcare professional regulators, the devolved administrations, NHS England and NHS Improvement and employing organisations to ensure that the closure of the temporary emergency registers takes place in a planned and co-ordinated way.The temporary registers will be closed at the end of the COVID-19 emergency period (as declared by the Secretary of State) and all those who have joined the temporary registers will have their registration revoked. However, we are keen that anyone who has returned to practice and who wishes to remain working beyond the emergency period is encouraged and supported to join the full register. To do so they will need to demonstrate that they meet the required standards and pay the relevant registration fees.

Social Services: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to protect care workers from contracting COVID-19.

lord bethell: It is vital to protect the care workers who are providing personal care for vulnerable individuals in the social care sector. On 13 May we announced an additional £600 million to support providers through a new Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund. The Fund sets out the measures providers can take to support the workforce to minimise the spread of infection, including ensuring staff can self-isolate or reduce the number of establishments they work at, without experiencing any loss of income.Care workers should receive personal protective equipment (PPE) from the care provider they work for in line with the latest Government recommendations. We are committed to ensuring that all areas have access to PPE, and are working around the clock with the industry, the National Health Service, social care providers and the army to ensure urgent supply of PPE.

Coronavirus: Industrial Health and Safety

baroness lawrence of clarendon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter sent by Sir Simon Stephens to all NHS Trusts on 29 April which stated "on a precautionary basis we recommend employers should risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly"; and what action NHS Trusts should take in response.

lord bethell: Proper risk assessment is key to ensuring the protection and wellbeing of our staff. NHS Employers, working in partnership with key stakeholders, published guidance for employers on 30 April on how to carry out risk assessments particularly for vulnerable groups, to understand the specific risks staff members face from exposure to COVID-19 and actions which employers can take to keep staff safe. NHS Employers will be keeping its guidance to employers under review to reflect any feedback or additional evidence coming to light and signpost to key national guidance where available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness andrews: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to integrate the results of COVID-19 antibody testing with the results of the NHS contacting tracing app; and what consideration they have given to the implications of integrating these results for privacy protections.

lord bethell: There are currently no such plans. If we make any changes to how the app works over time, we will explain in plain English why those changes were made and what they mean for app users and will publish an updated Data Protection Impact Assessment and Privacy Notice.

Coronavirus: Probiotics

lord lipsey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of the use of probiotics in treating COVID-19.

lord bethell: The use of probiotics and prebiotics to treat COVID-19 are not currently our priority in trials. The Government is investing across the board in both basic genetic research and clinical studies to find a sustainable treatment or vaccine against COVID-19. More information can be found in Our plan to rebuild: the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy which is attached. The Government has been at the forefront of the international response to the virus, co-hosting the Coronavirus Global Response Summit on 4 May, pledging £388 million in aid funding for research into vaccines, tests and treatment including £250 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.



Our plan to rebuild COVID 19 recovery strategy
(PDF Document, 1.72 MB)

Coronavirus

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their policy was at the recent G20 meetings of health ministers on the proposal for a COVID-19 global mechanism for all countries to access affordable testing, treatment and vaccines.

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they supported proposals made at recent meetings of G20 representatives for a global mechanism to provide affordable testing, treatment and vaccination for COVID-19.

lord bethell: The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held on 19 April. During its intervention, the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of a coordinated global response to COVID-19, including on the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.A globally accessible vaccine, alongside effective tests and treatments is needed to end the pandemic and start global economic recovery. This will need unprecedented global collaboration and resourcing to drive the speed and scale needed.

Department for International Development

Minority Groups: Coronavirus

baroness anelay of st johns: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support refugees and marginalised religious and belief communities which have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable, including refugees and those from marginalised religious and belief communities. Vulnerable populations will experience COVID-19 outbreaks differently. COVID-19 is likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance has been circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and that the specific needs of refugees and all marginalised religious communities should be taken into account when developing practical programmes to tackle COVID-19.

Department for Education

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children who are eligible for the national voucher scheme; and what is the current rate of take up in England.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Our latest guidance on for schools is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils and this can include food parcel arrangements, alternative voucher arrangements or provision through the national voucher scheme.Edenred has reported that over £101.5 million worth of voucher codes have been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Friday 22 May. Edenred has also reported that 17,000 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 12 May. We do not collect data on the scheme at pupil level.The number and proportion of students who qualify for free school meals is published in the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ publication and its underlying data files. As of the 2019 school census, there are around 1.3 million children eligible for and claiming free school meals. Statistics for the 2020 school census are not yet available. The 2019 publication is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2019.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.



PDF file for second link 
(PDF Document, 1.09 MB)

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current take up rate of the national voucher scheme; and how manyvouchers provided through that scheme have been spent in supermarkets.

baroness berridge: As my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.Our latest guidance for schools is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children and we encourage this approach where it is possible.Where this is not possible, we have introduced a national voucher scheme to provide headteachers with additional flexibility to decide what is best for families at their schools. More information about the national voucher scheme is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.As of Friday 22 May, Edenred reported that over £101.5 million has been redeemed into supermarket vouchers by families and schools. As of Tuesday 12 May, Edenred reported that 17,000 schools had placed an order. Schools will continue to receive their core funding allocations as normal.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We will continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

baroness boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the length of time it has taken for the national voucher scheme to issue and deliver vouchers to schools and families; and what plans they have to (1) speed up the process for families, and (2) reduce the administration required from schools.

baroness berridge: As my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children and we encourage this approach where it is possible.Where this is not possible, we have introduced a national voucher scheme to provide headteachers with additional flexibility to decide what is best for families at their schools. More information about the national voucher scheme is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.We are working very closely with our supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the national voucher scheme. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience whilst we upgrade this service to meet increased demand. Edenred have written to schools using the system to encourage them to order vouchers in bulk as this is more efficient for both the system and the school, enabling orders to be processed more quickly.Edenred has reported that over £101.5 million worth of voucher codes have been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of 22 May and that 17,000 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of 12 May. Schools will continue to receive their core funding allocations as normal. However, if schools are unable to use the national voucher scheme and choose an alternative approach, they can be reimbursed through the exceptional costs fund, where the costs cannot be met from their existing resources. Further details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We will continue to keep the situation under review and to keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Academies

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of secondary schools are now academies.

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many secondary academy trusts comprise: (1) single academies, (2) two academies, (3) three academies, (4) four academies, and (5) five academies.

baroness berridge: In May 2020, there are 2,675 secondary academies, free schools, studio schools and university technical colleges (UTCs), out of a total of 3,453 state-funded secondary schools. This is 77% of all secondary schools. Please note that the number of secondary schools includes middle deemed secondary schools, 16+ schools, all through schools and secondary schools.Academy trusts may comprise of either one phase of education, or multiple phases of education. The table below provides the number of academies within academy trusts that have at least one secondary academy. The number of academies within these trusts also includes primary, special and alternative provision (AP) academies, free schools, studio schools and UTCs.   Table 1: Number of academy trusts, by size of academy trust, and number of academies within those trustsNumber of academies in a trustNumber of academy trusts with one or more secondary academyNumber of primary, secondary, special and AP academies within these trusts178678621382763106318477308572360More than 52773574Total14565622 Source: Get information about schools, taken from 1 May 2020.

Polytechnics

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to convert some universities back to polytechnics.

baroness berridge: We currently have no plans to introduce legislation to convert some universities back to polytechnics.

Free Schools: Coronavirus

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of free schools in the pre-opening stage.

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how COVID-19 is affecting the delivery of new special free schools; and what steps they are taking to mitigate this impact.

baroness berridge: We are monitoring closely the risk that construction delays caused by COVID-19 might impact on our capacity to deliver free schools, including special free schools, planning to open in September 2020.Where delays are putting at risk completion of sites by September, we are agreeing appropriate mitigations, including alternative temporary accommodation.We remain committed to opening all free schools due to open this September, as planned.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

lord lee of trafford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners, both adult and those in young offender institutions, have been granted early release as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord keen of elie: On 31 March, we announced that pregnant women and prisoners with their babies in custody will be considered for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 15 May, 21 pregnant women and mothers with babies in custody have been released.In addition, prisoners identified as ‘extremely vulnerable’ as defined in the NHS guidelines will merit consideration for ROTL on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 15 May, 5 extremely vulnerable individuals have been released.On 4 April, we announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. As of Friday 15 May, 66 offenders have been released under this scheme.All offenders released were aged 18 and over.Alongside the careful release of low-risk offenders, we are taking steps to temporarily expand the prison estate, shield the most vulnerable, and reduce the number of prisoners on remand. This is to strike a balance between limiting the spread of COVID-19 in jails while ensuring the public is protected.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) male, and (2) female, prisoners have been released from prison due to COVID-19 under (a) the early release scheme, and (b)the compassionate release scheme, in each week since 23 March.

lord keen of elie: On 31 March, we announced that pregnant women and prisoners with their babies in custody will be considered for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic.Prisoners identified as ‘extremely vulnerable’ as defined in the NHS guidelines will also merit consideration for ROTL on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic.On 4 April, we announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period.Alongside the careful release of low-risk offenders, we are taking steps to temporarily expand the prison estate, shield the most vulnerable, and reduce the number of prisoners on remand. This is to strike a balance between limiting the spread of COVID-19 in jails while ensuring the public is protected.The tables below provide the number of prisoners released from prison under the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme and the number of prisoners released on temporary licence on compassionate grounds. The data in these tables is correct as of Friday 15 May. W/CCompassionate release- Male End of Custody Temporary Release- MaleTotalw/c Mon 30 Mar000w/c Mon 06 Apr011w/c Mon 13 Apr099w/c Mon 20 Apr033w/c Mon 27 Apr01515w/c Mon 04 May52126w/c Mon 11 May01212Grand Total56166 W/CCompassionate Release- FemaleEnd of Custody Temporary Release-FemaleTotalw/c Mon 30 Mar303w/c Mon 06 Apr11011w/c Mon 13 Apr415w/c Mon 20 Apr314w/c Mon 27 Apr000w/c Mon 04 May011w/c Mon 11 May022Grand Total21526

Remand in Custody

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) men, and (2) women, have been remanded into prison from magistrates courts in each week since 23 March.

lord keen of elie: The requested data is not available at this time. Court data up to the year ending December 2019 is due to be published on 21 May 2020, and data for the year ending December 2020 is planned for publication in May 2021. Prison receptions data covering January to March 2020 is planned for publication in July 2020 and data covering April to June 2020 is planned for publication in October 2020.

Prisons: Coronavirus

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1)prisoners, and (2) prison officers, have died from COVID-19; and what plans they, if any, to (a) increase testing, and (b) introduce further safeguarding measures, for COVID-19 in prisons.

lord keen of elie: We are working hard to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the prison system as part of the national plan to protect the NHS and save lives. We are implementing a range of measures to reduce the spread of the transmission of the virus and the numbers of lives sadly lost.As of 5pm on Thursday, 14 May, we are aware of 21 prisoners and 8 prison staff who sadly have died with COVID-19NHS England and Improvement is responsible for testing for COVID-19 both in the community and in secure settings. As such, we do not hold data on staff and prisoner testing. On 24 April, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the rollout of COVID-19 testing for all essential workers and symptomatic members of their household, including prison staff, those working in Approved Premises (APs) and probation staff (including private sector service providers) in England. We have referred over 3,000 HMPPS staff for testing to date.In Wales, testing for prison, AP and probation staff and symptomatic members of their household is being delivered through local resilience forum arrangements and through Local Health Boards.For prisoners, tests will be conducted on symptomatic prisoners on site. The testing capacity and availability can vary between establishments, depending on local circumstances at the time.We are continuously working with Public Health England and Public Health Wales to improve our safeguards in prisons. Our strategy has shown early signs of success in limiting the transmission of COVID-19.

Prisons: Staff

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) health checks, and (2) tests, are conducted on staff working in prisons on a routine basis.

lord keen of elie: HM Prison and Probation Service makes sure that it fully complies with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in providing a safe place of work and safe systems of work for all of our staff working in prisons.Prior to employment of a prison officer, a trained nurse will carry out a medical assessment and upon employment, mandatory physical fitness tests are conducted for prison officers on an annual basis. Fitness tests must be passed for the prison officer to remain fit for work.Wellbeing days are delivered across prison, probation and HQ sites and includes weight, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol checks.Staff receive occupational vaccinations programmes and vaccine history checks, including blood tests, to ensure prison and probation staff are protected at work. This includes Hepatitis B immunisation, the annual flu vaccine and a 24-hour helpline for suspected and actual body fluid exposure incidents in prisons and at probation sites.In respect of Covid-19, occupational health is able to give clinical advice to managers on fitness to work. Testing is currently offered to all prison staff through a national programme delivered by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners have been released due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and how many of any such prisoners have been in prison due to committing sexual offences and released from (1) open, and (2) closed, prisons.

lord keen of elie: On 31 March, we announced that pregnant women and prisoners with their babies in custody will be considered for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 15 May, 21 pregnant women and mothers with babies in custody have been released.In addition, prisoners identified as ‘extremely vulnerable’ as defined in the NHS guidelines will merit consideration for ROTL on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 15 May, 5 extremely vulnerable individuals have been released.On 4 April, we announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. As of Friday 15 May, 66 offenders have been released under this scheme.54 offenders were released from closed prisons and 38 were released from open prisons. None of the offenders released were serving sentences for sexual offences.

Prisoners: Health

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard the physical and mental health of prisoners, in particular those subject to (1) long periods of being locked in cells, (2) the suspension of all visits, and (3) overcrowded cells.

lord keen of elie: The Government takes the health and wellbeing of prisoners very seriously. We work closely with health partners to provide a standard of healthcare in prisons equivalent to that available in the community. COVID-19, however, presents a unique set of challenges that we must address to keep prisoners safe. To mitigate these, we are operating a National Response Model in prisons, and working very closely with public health authorities to ensure our approach is based on the best scientific advice available.This does, unfortunately, mean that visits have been suspended and people in prison are spending more time in their cells. They are, however, being given access to services including telephone contact with loved ones, access to health services and where possible time in the open air. Additionally, following a successful trial at HMP Berwyn, we are rolling out secure video calling to 10 prisons with a wider roll out in the coming weeks. We continue to make the Samaritans phone service available, and are working with the Samaritans to ensure that the Listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively. We are also providing distraction packs and in cell activities to support mental and physical wellbeing.We are continuing to provide care and support to people at risk of self-harm or suicide through ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) case management. For those with severe mental health issues, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the process for transfer to hospital continues in as normal a way as possible.Measures are also being taken to safeguard prisoners with particularly vulnerable physical health from COVID-19 and to satisfy requirements for social distancing. Since February, we have managed to move 4,000 people out of double cells, and work is being taken forward to create extra cells and increase the capacity of the prison estate. Meanwhile, prisoners identified in accordance with NHS guidance as being ‘extremely vulnerable’ to COVID-19 are being proactively considered for release from custody under existing Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) provisions. Where a prisoner falling within this category is considered not suitable for release, they will continue to be appropriately shielded within custody.

Young Offenders: Health and  Rehabilitation

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to safeguard the well-being and rehabilitation of young offenders in custody

lord keen of elie: The safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in custody remains our priority during this unprecedented period. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has been adapting its approach to delivery in order to meet the needs of children whilst complying with wider guidance around physical distancing. There is a focus on delivering essential activities and ensuring that children remain engaged and stimulated. This includes regular phone calls (additional phone credit has been allocated), access to showers and education materials and time in the fresh air. Establishments are working to create activities that children can undertake in small groups or in their rooms, including workouts and greater access to television, entertainment and in room activity material.‘Secure Stairs’ is the framework for integrated care jointly led by NHS England, NHS Improvement and the YCS, which provides the foundations as to how youth secure establishments work with children. An enhanced ‘Secure Stairs’ team has come together to support staff and children, focusing on an approach that encourages interaction and protects the physical and mental health of young people whilst ensuring compliance with physical distancing requirements.HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) recently published a report following short scrutiny visits to Cookham Wood, Parc and Wetherby Young Offender Institutions on 21 April. The report was acknowledged by HMIP as being generally positive, referencing the ‘swift actions taken to keep children safe, as well as the creativity of staff and managers in providing opportunities for children to receive meaningful interaction’. They also noted that all the sites were calm and well ordered, with self-harm reduced at Parc and Wetherby and stable at Cookham Wood.Separately, the YCS conducted the internal review of safeguarding across youth custody, ‘Youth Custody Service Safeguarding Review’ which was published on Gov.uk last October. The recommendations of this report are being considered and taken forward by the newly-created ‘YCS National Head of Safeguarding’ to further enhance safeguarding of children within secure settings.

Forced Marriage

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate to tackle predatory marriage.

lord keen of elie: The Government has no current legislative plans to change the existing safeguards.A registration official has a duty to stop proceedings if they are of opinion that either of the parties to a marriage does not have the capacity to marry.The Law Commission is currently reviewing how and where weddings take place, including the formalities and safeguarding checks required before a marriage is conducted. We will carefully consider any recommendations made in the final report.

Prisoners: Coronavirus

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many, and what proportion of, persons held in prisons who have been tested for COVID-19have (1) tested positive, (2) been removed to hospitals, and (3) died following a positive test; and whether persons who are (a) admitted to, and (b) released from, prison are tested at the time of admittance or release.

lord keen of elie: As of Friday 15 May, 422 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19. This is an accumulative total and does not represent the number of live cases. Some of those that previously tested positive will have now made a full recovery.As of Friday 15 May, 51 prisoners, who have tested positive for COVID-19 were removed to hospitals. However, from available data it is not possible to confirm whether individuals tested positive before or after hospitalisation.Sadly, as of Friday 15 May, 21 prisoners have died having tested positive for the virus. It is a matter for coroners to determine a cause of death.Although there is some testing conducted on symptomatic prisoners, COVID-19 testing is not yet a routine part of the prison reception process. New cohorting strategies have been developed however, and as a result prisons are implementing units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals for a period of 14 days to reduce risk of transmission.All new receptions into prison are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 by healthcare professionals.COVID-19 testing is not part of the prison release process.These are interim figures as reported by prisons. They are subject to revision as more information becomes available.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus

lord stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction of National Non Domestic Rates receipts in 2020–21 consequent upon COVID19; and what discussions they have had with the Local Government Association and councils about the impact of that virus on the operation of the Business Rates Retention Scheme and local authority budgets in succeeding years.

lord greenhalgh: The Government is in on-going discussions with local authorities and their representative bodies, including the Local Government Association, to understand the impact that Covid-19 is having on councils’ funding, including non-domestic rating income. As a result of those discussions, we have announced the suspension of the planned reforms to the local government finance system, including the Review of Relative Needs and Resources (the ‘Fair Funding Review’) and the increase to 75% business rates retention. These were due to be introduced in 2020-21 and would have complicated councils’ financial planning at a time when the impact of Covid-19 on present and future business rates income is still uncertain. We have also introduced measures worth over £5 billion to ease the immediate cashflow pressures caused by reductions in local authority revenues. We will continue to work with councils and their representative bodies to understand the on-going impact of the pandemic on councils’ finances and capacity.

Coastal Areas: Coronavirus

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what targeted, additional support they are making available to businesses in seaside towns during and beyond the lockdown.

lord greenhalgh: The government has already invested £228m since 2012 in coastal towns, supporting 359 projects through the Coastal Communities Fund and a further £7.5 million though the Coastal Revival Fund.In recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, the government has announced a package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been working across Government to provide £13 billion of grant funding to help small and rural businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors manage their cashflow through this period. This support is in the form of two grant funding schemes, the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). As of 10 May, these grants have been received by over 742,000 businesses and the performance of local authorities in disbursing funding is published on a weekly basis, including all local authorities covering coastal areas of England, this document can be found here at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businessesIn addition, on 1 May, the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. This is an additional 5% uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced. The additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. Guidance, intended to support Local Authorities in administering the Discretionary Grants Fund, was published on 13 May. This does not replace existing guidance for the SBGF or the RHLGF.Furthermore, High Streets Minister Simon Clarke announced on 24 May 2020 a new £50 million fund for councils to support their local high streets get safely back to business. To prepare for the reopening of non-essential retail when the scientific advice allows, the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund will help councils in England, including those with seaside towns, introduce a range of safety measures in a move to kick-start local economies, get people back to work and customers back to the shops. The announcement, including allocations, can be found (attached) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/50-million-boost-to-support-the-recovery-of-our-high-streets and the accompanying guidance at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reopening-high-streets-safely-fund-guidance



Local authority grant payment
(Excel SpreadSheet, 71.5 KB)




High street fund allocation
(PDF Document, 349.28 KB)




High Street safely fund guidance
(PDF Document, 599.92 KB)

Mayors

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce more elected mayors for local authorities in England; and if not, why not.

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of local authorities in England that (1) have elected mayors, and (2) do not have elected mayors.

lord greenhalgh: As the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government wants to see more mayors with more powers, and has successfully concluded negotiations with West Yorkshire for a devolution deal involving electing a new mayor in May 2021. The Government intends to set out its future plans for devolution, including future governance arrangements, in a White Paper later this year and intends to work with areas at pace to deliver these plans.It is for local areas to decide what governance arrangements would be of most benefit and value to their local communities. As set out in answer to a question (HL17399, answered on 23 July 2019) from the Noble Lord, Lord Grocott, as the effectiveness of local government is dependent on many factors, not simply the governance arrangements, the only assessment undertaken by Government of governance models has been to focus on what different models can deliver; it has concluded that only the mayoral model provides that single point of accountability necessary if significant powers and budgets are to be devolved to an area.

Public Lavatories: Coronavirus

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assist councils to provide safe toilet facilities at beaches, parks and other leisure facilities as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are eased.

lord greenhalgh: The government has published guidance on safer public spaces. It includes advice, information and examples of the potential interventions that can be used in public places to facilitate social distancing in areas of higher footfall such as in parks (attached). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spaces-covid-19Owners and operators are advised to implement cleaning protocols to limit coronavirus transmission in public places. It is advised that touch points (e.g. handrails and gates) should be particular areas of focus for increased cleaning.To help everyone maintain good hygiene, consideration should be given to: configuration of toilet facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing achieved as far as possible and with best practice handwashing followed; where possible, providing hand towels as an alternative to hand dryers in handwashing facilities; signs at public toilets for queuing, social distancing and automatic sanitising; using signs and messages to build awareness of good handwashing technique and other respiratory hygiene behaviours, e.g. around coughing and sneezing in public places; where possible, providing hand towels as an alternative to hand dryers in handwashing facilities; and queue marking indicators at main entrance, popular park destinations and toilets.We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils are facing as a result of the current crisis. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making sure councils, including upper and lower tier authorities, have the resources they need to support their communities through this challenging time.



Safer public places guidance
(PDF Document, 7.53 MB)

Tourism: Coronavirus

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they are providing to local councils on opening car parking facilities, particularly in tourist areas that might see large influxes of visitors as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are eased.

lord greenhalgh: In line with the Government’s position on localism, parking is the responsibility of local authorities and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area. However, central government does have an interest in how car parks are managed and is working closely with local government stakeholders to keep parking policies and guidance under review during the COVID-19 response.We have recently published guidance on Safer Public Places, which includes recommendations for the adaptation and management of urban centres and green spaces to facilitate social distancing.

Local Government: Coronavirus

baroness pinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 5 May (HL3280), whether councils will be failing in their democratic duties if theydo not hold a formal meeting within a six-month period; and what plans they have to advise local councils that the six-month rule should not apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: The Government has no plans to advise local councils that the six-month attendance rule should not apply during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 enable all local authority meetings before 7 May 2021 to be held remotely. Councils can thus continue to hold meetings whilst following Public Health guidelines, upholding democratic principles and maintaining a thriving local democracy.

Ministry of Defence

Mali: Armed Forces

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government which Armed Forcespersonnel were planned to be deployed to Mali in 2020; and what wasthe anticipated (1) length, and (2) objective, of any such deployment.

baroness goldie: As announced in July 2019, the UK is due to deploy 250 peacekeepers to the UN's mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The first unit is planned to deploy in 2020 and will be led by the Light Dragoons. The deployment will last an initial period of three years. The deployment’s objectives are aligned with the UN mission's mandate of: supporting the Malian peace process; security sector reform; assisting the reestablishment of State authority; protecting civilians; and promoting human rights.The UK also currently has three CH-47 helicopters committed to France's counter-terror mission in the Sahel, Operation BARKHANE, in a non-combat, heavy-lift capacity role. This was initially agreed as part of the January 2018 UK-France Summit. This commitment is currently due to end in June 2020 and discussions are ongoing regarding a possible extension. Operation BARKHANE is a French-led operation and the objectives focus on preventing the re-establishment of any safe havens for terrorist forces in the region. The UK also has military and civilian staff in the EU's Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali. UK contributions to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations will be maintained during the Transition Period. The objectives for these UK personnel are focused on the delivery of international humanitarian law training, in support of EUTM's current mandate which aims to train, educate and advise Malian Armed Forces.

Department for Work and Pensions

Pension Credit: Uprating

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the costs of uprating the Pension Credit by the triple lock over the next 20 years, instead of uprating by earnings.

baroness stedman-scott: No estimate has been made on the cost of uprating the Pension Credit by the triple lock over the next 20 years, instead of uprating by earnings.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the UK’s negotiating position on a future fisheries agreement with the European Union.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK published its approach to fisheries negotiations on 27 February and has since published its draft Fisheries Framework Agreement legal text, as set out in a Written Ministerial Statement laid before the House on 19 May.

Trees: Disease Control

lord framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the UK from the import of (1) oak processionary moth, (2) emerald ash borer, and (3) Xylella fastidiosa.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has established UK Preparedness Boards for both Xylella fastidiosa and the emerald ash borer (EAB), chaired by the Chief Plant Health Officer, to monitor and mitigate risks and to ensure a swift and effective response should either enter the UK. On 21 April, Defra also introduced new national measures to impose more stringent import requirements to protect the UK from these threats. For Xylella, the import of Coffea and Polygala myrtifolia species is now prohibited, due to a high disease rate in these species, and stronger import requirements have been introduced for other high-risk hosts including olive, almond, Nerium oleander, lavender and rosemary. For the EAB, there are stronger controls on countries within 100km of confirmed outbreak areas. This includes the removal of an option in EU legislation to remove the bark and sapwood to a depth of 2.5cm for all countries regulated for EAB. In relation to oak processionary moth (OPM), restrictions on oak tree imports were tightened in 2019, so that imports of all oaks from outside Europe are prohibited and the import of large oaks (which are susceptible to OPM) from Europe is prohibited, unless they originate in a pest-free area or a country where OPM is not known to occur, or have been grown under physical protection throughout their life.

Home Office

Asylum: Finance

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 6 May (HL Deb, col 441), when the current review of asylum support commenced; when that review is due to be completed; and whether that review will take additional costs into account, such as those associated with hygiene needs, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: The current review of the level of the cash allowances began with the publication of the latest Family Spending data by the Office of National Statistics on 19 March, as that data is one of the main sources of information used to assess the appropriate level of the allowances. The review also takes account of research into the actual costs of purchasing essential items and whether Covid 19 has impacted on these costs. The outcome of the review will be published in due course.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial and other support they provided to those released from immigration removal centres as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they hold the current address of each person released from an immigration removal centre as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they provided long-term accommodation to those released from immigration removal centres as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be unable to support themselves are provided with accommodation and financial assistance to meet their essential living needs. We remain committed to providing support and accommodation to those who need it. In light of the pandemic, we have introduced temporary measures to continue supporting those who would normally have had their accommodation and financial assistance stopped until at least the end of June when we will review the situation. We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need. The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended. People granted refugee status in the United Kingdom are able to access the mainstream benefits in the same way as a British Citizen. Individuals released from immigration detention will usually be subject to certain conditions which may require a person to report to a Home Office reporting centre at regular intervals or to remain living at the same address.

Asylum: Finance

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toincrease the level of asylum support in line with the COVID-19 related uplift for Universal Credit.

baroness williams of trafford: We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers. The level of the cash allowances is not linked to Universal Credit.Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those in the asylum system who are affected by the covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are making adjustments to our processes and procedures where necessary and appropriate

Quarantine: Coronavirus

lord kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the arrangements are for requiring foreign persons who enter the United Kingdom via the Republic of Ireland to comply with a quarantine.

baroness williams of trafford: In order to keep overall levels of infection down and in line with many other countries, the Government will introduce a series of measures and restrictions at the UK border.Firstly, the Government will require all international arrivals to supply their contact and accommodation information. They will also be strongly advised to download and use the NHS contact tracing app. The Government will also require all international arrivals not on a short list of exemptions to self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK.Recognising the unique nature of the Common Travel Area, as well as the unique position of Northern Ireland, journeys within the Common Travel Area will be exempt from these measures.We will continue to work closely with Ireland and the Crown Dependencies on our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Enforcement: Disease Control

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the means by which police forces are enforcing the lockdown, particularly in regard to police on horsebackquestioning people in parks; what representations they have received about the behaviour of the police when carrying out such enforcement; and what guidance they have provided to police to ensure adherence with Government guidelines.

baroness williams of trafford: Our police forces face unprecedented challenges as they play the critical role of maintaining public order during this public health emergency. The police response has and will follow the four-step escalation principles – engaging, explaining, encouraging, and then enforcing as a last resort.I welcome the conclusions of the Home Affairs Select Committee report on police preparedness, which was published on 17 April. The report concluded that the overall police response to the current crisis has been proportionate and effective.We have and will continue to work closely with our policing partners to ensure there is clear guidance to officers on any changes to the Health Protection Regulations and the powers available to them.

Immigration

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people who have come into the UK by (1) boat, and (2) Eurostar, since 1 April.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office is due to publish the next quarterly Immigration Statistics on 21 May. In addition, an ad hoc statistical release ‘Statistics relating to Covid-19 and the immigration system, May 2020’ will be published on the 28 May - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/statistics-relating-to-covid-19-and-the-immigration-system-may-2020.

Treasury

Transport: Excise Duties

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 4 May (HL3177), what was the total fuel duty received from hydrocarbon oils used in inland transportin eachyear from 2010to 2019.

lord agnew of oulton: Total Fuel Duty received from 2010 to 2019 was as follows. As HM Revenue and Customs does not request usage information within traders’ returns to avoid unnecessary admin burdens to business it is not possible to break these down by inland transport. 2010: £27.0 billion2011: £26.9 billion2012: £26.7 billion2013: £26.7 billion2014: £27.1 billion2015: £27.4 billion2016: £28.0 billion2017: £28.0 billion2018: £27.9 billion2019: £27.8 billion Total Fuel Duty revenue statistics are published within HM Revenue and Customs Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin published every March, June, September and December at HMRC’s ‘UK Trade Info’ online portal.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Ministerial Statements and Private Notice Questions: Virtual Proceedings

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessmenthas been madeof the time available to members of the House to participate in (1) Private Notice Questions, and (2) urgent questions from the House of Commons repeated as statements, which are being considered in Virtual Proceedings; and what plansthere are to change the time available.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The Procedure Committee agreed on 11 May that the time allowed for a Private Notice Question should be increased from ten minutes to fifteen minutes. This change was approved by the House on 14 May. The allocation of time for the answers to Urgent Questions in the House of Commons repeated in the form of Oral Statements remains as if it were taking place in the Chamber, and there are currently no plans to extend the time allowed for these. The Procedure Committee will continue to keep these arrangements under review.

House of Lords: Training

lord lucas: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whatplans there are for the (1) long-term evaluation, and (2) follow-up, of the Valuing Everyone training sessions.

lord mcfall of alcluith: Valuing Everyone is a training module designed specifically for Parliament that aims to raise awareness of, and confidence to tackle, bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as to highlight the sources of support available to those who have experienced this behaviour. Variations of this training are offered to staff of both Houses, members of both Houses and members’ staff.The training is part of a suite of initiatives that together ensure that Parliament is a safe and respectful workplace, with zero tolerance of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. The two Houses will continue to conduct regular　surveys, among other measures, to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives.Participants are routinely asked to complete feedback forms, and the results of these (including those from MPs and Peers) demonstrate that participants have an overwhelmingly positive experience of the training, and in particular report that they are better able to recognise and call out unacceptable behaviour. These, together with ad hoc feedback from participants, allow an ongoing dialogue enabling the course to remain relevant and suitable for all parts of the parliamentary community. In addition, the training provider submits regular anonymised reports to the two Houses on themes that have emerged during the training, so that appropriate steps can be taken to address risks or to communicate more effectively about Parliament’s response to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.